Well, it’s been a while and a lot more stuff has happened. Before we get to the new, let’s look at some history:
- Watergate grand jury letter (link)
- Watergate report release (story here, docs here)
- Draft of charges against Nixon (here)
- The Clinton Impeachment Timeline (Link)
Some more explainers/timelines:
- Congressional Research Service Impeachment Investigations: Law and Process
- All other CRS reports on Impeachment
- Timelines and recaps from News Agencies: The LA Times, CBS, RollCall (for stuff I’ve missed)
And some political science/law:
- What is a coup? Is Trump being targeted by one?
- Is the impeachment inquiry really ‘unconstitutional’?
- What exactly is a high crime and misdemeanor?
- A view on self dealing from a criminal law perspective.
- A discussion on impeachment from Dr. Tullis. (pdf)
And now on to the new events. I’ll try to link to original documents when possible, and link to stories to add context.
Remember our first retirement? Former American Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker gave three House committees documents and text messages between US diplomats and Ukrainians. Read them here. Read some coverage on the communications here.
Lindsey Graham sent a letter to Australia, they replied (and here’s an earlier response).
Giuliani Associates Indicted on Campaign Finance Charges
Trump accused of firing ambassador after complaints from Giuliani (WSJ)
Were Trump and Giuliani motivated by a conspiracy theory? Does Mike Pompeo believe it too? Is there another conspiracy theory motivating the President?
“A Republican senator said he was told by an American diplomat in August that the release of U.S. aid to Ukraine was contingent on an investigation desired by President Trump and his allies, but Mr. Trump denied pursuing any such proposal when the lawmaker pressed him on it.” (WSJ)
Trump White House response to the House subpoenas (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and here is a list of everyone who has, and hasn’t complied. And here’s a polisci take on the letter and it’s arguments.
“Justice Department lawyers urged a federal judge Tuesday to deny a House Judiciary Committee request for grand-jury materials from former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation, arguing that despite legal rulings during the impeachment inquiry into President Richard M. Nixon, in hindsight courts in 1974 should not have given Congress materials from the Watergate grand jury.” (WashPo)
“A series of internal State Department emails reflect diplomats’ frustration with the unexpected freeze on funding that Congress had already approved.” (NYTimes)
70 Inspector Generals respond to Office of Legal Counsel’s (OLC) September 3, 2019 Memorandum for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on whistleblowing. (story from WashPo) (letter here)
Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney had a press briefing (transcript; video) He was later asked about it on the Sunday shows. And Rick Perry resigned, but I think we’ve already forgotten about him.
Chair of FEC releases letter clarifying what a “thing of value” is.
Lindsey Graham introduced a resolution condemning the House hearings. Andy Biggs introduced H.Res.630 – Condemning and censuring Adam Schiff.
House Republicans storm an impeachment hearing (NYTimes).
- Want to watch two Congressmen debate about the proceedings and who designed the process? Well, here you go.
“A federal judge handed a victory to House Democrats on Friday when she ruled that they were legally engaged in an impeachment inquiry, a decision that undercut President Trump’s arguments that the investigation is a sham.” (NYTimes story) (the judge’s opinion)
In other news, here’s a pro-impeachment take from George Conway- yes, as in married to Kellyanne Conway- and report of Giuliani’s *sigh* butt dial to an actual reporter.